Tributes | Jampot

JAMPOT TRIBUTES FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

BILL MAURO

Congratulations on a long and successful Kahunahood . Your efforts have kept a community going through some strange times. When Perry Gerhart first launched the Jampot his goal was a modest gathering of the few riders he thought might respond.
He would be amazed and proud that the Jampot has lasted this long and generated so many fond memories. Aging may be slowing us down a bit, but we can still stay calm and ride on !

Bill Mauro Kahuna #2

DEB & KEVIN HUNT

Thank you John and all the others who contributed in making it an event we looked forward to for many years. I know firsthand from the 2 years Kevin was Kahuna, it took a lot of work and help from others to put it all together. We started going to Jampot before we were married in 1983 and missed very few along the way. We were able to share the event with our boys and,we all have our special memories. We made many friends over the years. JAMPOT may be ending, but will not be forgotten !!!

PS: DOREEN ! ( you will know if you know)

DAVID TATLOCK

Yes, indeed, I was there at Matchless Rally Num. Uno. at Perry Gerhart's, and I have my letter from the year before, writ. by Bill Mauro and mailed out, that we should
respond, else Velocette clubbers poke us with a stick to see if we were alive. A ride for shoo fly pie breakfast in the midst of a long line of Single cylindered Matchless was a thrill beyond description, wake up Sat. morning to John Scop firing up his G80CS at dawn. Rocke was there, too.

2nd year, the rallye almost died, held for a very few in some little KOA campground. Only 3rd yr did it come to Bucksteep. Jim Asmussen from the German-sounding town across the NY border plus his pretty wife, lots had a 2-year go at it, and Greg Sudak came up with the parts gifts on the Bucksteep porch.

Big high point, best 2 hours of anything that happened in a year, bike-oriented or not, was the Saturday afternoon milling around, drinks in hand, meeting and greeting,
great motorcycles parked hither and yon. Mauro's Matchless Trials bike, Peter Rocke's backfiring Matchless 600 Typhoon, even Brian Sweeney and his G9 and his cackling horde from New Jersey, showing up in a school bus dressed as a Beatle, and one of his kin drunk as a skunk screaming for his wife at midnight:

"DOREEN!"

The meals at Bucksteep were great. Twas sad when Sunday morning you regretfully faced the fact that the Jampot Rally didn't happen every day of the year. My '66 G80 here I send out to all in a picture, went to reassy with new pipe and new muffler and many new WW nuts and bolts, transfers, repaint by Roger Pagery, put back together by Andy Townsend, no relation to Peter of the Who, at Mohawk Garage around 3 yrs. ago - gave the G80 to him. He tells me he commutes to Becket from Southampton on it. Always liked the exhaust note. And much more, DT Mohawk Garage, btw, 413-623-6022.

One final note. Let's turn this country from a spread of penal colonies and sending political opponents to gulags in El Salvador and not make enemies of our best friends, the Canadians. DT

BEN ENGLISH

Huge thanks are due to John for keeping the Jampot going in the face of many difficulties.

The Jampot was the highpoint of my year at least so far as motorcycling went. Life will be empty and boring without it... the get-togethers in Ashfield, Hinsdale, and Reillyville ameliorate the loss. Let's do them often.

I will maintain membership in the Velo club and also the AJS-Matchless club which I joined a few years ago. Maybe a new opportunity will come up to get something going in upstate NY or western Mass under their auspices.

Ben English * Albany * New York * USA

DANIEL ANDREWS

I'm so sorry to hear the Jampot is no more but I will always cherish the event as one of the fondest memories of my childhood. That's where I learned to ride when I was around 7 years old or so.

I remember my first time riding the little 50cc pit bike at Peter Rocke's field with Vincent and Keith. The little Honda that we dubbed "Bubbles" because of the rusted out exhaust pipe that sounded so silly. It was still able to move Peter's big old body around though! I remember Keith playing his acoustic guitar around the campfires where he would freestyle comedy lyrics while the rest of us laughed until our sides hurt. Back at Bucksteep Manor when all us kids were old enough to have our own small off-road bikes and made ruts in the grass and all over the place from riding sunrise to sunset around the campground, Chapel Trail and the cross-country trails in the surrounding woods. We really pissed off the owners that year! When I had my 1974 Honda CL125 I never thought that old beater would do so well, but I was leading the group through the woods when I found a pair of motocross goggles hanging from a tree. I didn't have a pair so it was a pleasant surprise to find them. So many great, great memories that highlighted my childhood happened at Jampot.

I really do owe a lot to the Jampot for who I am today, that cannot be understated. I got a street legal motorcycle before I had a car on the road. I've owned several antique Hondas and now I have a real bike, being my 2019 Indian Scout. Unfortunately I was unable to ride it out to NY to show it off to you all despite trying for 3 years in a row. I was so upset that I was rained out 3 times!

I do miss all of you and would love to ride out if anyone decides to have a get together and has me in mind. I've been dying for an interstate motorcycle trip so distance is not really an issue. Until then I suppose this is farewell... Me and my dad wish you all the best in life, love and health. Anyone can feel free to contact me if you wish and I can pass any well wishes to my dad, John Andrews. He's had a really rough couple of years, but he is doing well now with his wife and I taking care of him. That's all for now, much thanks to all the Kahunas, Jampot members, and everyone else that made this event so special to all of us.

-Daniel Andrews

TIM POWERS

I arrived at my first Jampot sometime in the early 2000's on my little Mototrans 350. Over the years, I introduced my son Mark to it in which it sealed his love for antique British rides. I can remember having help changing the fork seals on my Norton under a pine tree at Bucksteep, riding my 71 BSA Bitsa in for the first time ( Thanks to John Rancitelli for the help with the build) and in the past few years, helping Kahuna John Les with set up and tear down as well as offering shop services and chase trailers. I have met so many wonderful people over the years and some have become great long lasting friends to this day. I guess every road must come to an end as Jampot has, but I will always cherish the memories, the rides, and the GREAT folks that have made Jampot possible for so many years. It is my sincere hope that we can all stay in touch and maybe some day meet up again. Until then, keep the shiny side up and between the lines and out of the pines. You will all be sorely missed!

Tim Powers

BRENDAN O'NEIL

Everyone will be missed. Many spectacular core memories and high level life experiences were had via this event. Not without the innumerable group of unique attendees of course. Cheers 🍻

See you out on the backroads

SCOTT BURGHART

Thanks John, the events that I attended were fun. But I guess all things must pass. Best to everyone. In case any one cares, I was the guy that would show up on a Royal Enfield 500 in chrome, or v anew Moto Guzzi V7.

Regards,
Scott

RANDALL MONTGOMERY

This is so sad. Was really looking forward to it. I really enjoyed the few I attended in recent years. Thanks John. I also have a mint condition 1966 G80 "Major" that looks exactly like the one in Doreen's photo. For sale for US$5,750.(located near Buffalo/ Niagara Falls) Am looking for a restored G-15 Mark II so possible trades considered.